SAMMIE DOES THE BUSINESS FOR U’S
JOHN McGREAL praised his side’s ‘perfect away performance’ as Colchester moved into the top three after a comfortable victory.
Second-half goals from Chris Porter and Sammie Szmodics sealed the win as the U’s continued their strong start to their first season in England’s fourth tier in 18 years.
For McGreal, who was only appointed to his first managerial post in May, it’s a third win in five games and the Colchester boss knows consistent form is vital to bounce back from last season’s relegation disappointment.
“It’s a great win for the club and the players,” said McGreal.
“We reiterated in the week that if you want to be a good side in this league you don’t lose two games in a row and I thought from minute one we were outstanding.
“I think it is the perfect away performance. For me coming into management, if you’d have asked for an away performance that would be exactly what you’d be looking for.
“It’s a terrific start to the season but it’s only five games and there are a lot of games left.
The first chance of the game actually fell to Wycombe but Aaron Pierre was unable to steer Danny Rowe’s cross into the far corner despite heading unchallenged from 12 yards out.
Jamal Blackman was the first keeper to be called into any real action as he saved low to his left after Brennan Dickenson had wriggled into the area from the Colchester left flank.
And as the game wore on the visiting side became more and more dominant and broke the deadlock just after the hour mark as Porter bundled home Szmodics’ cross from inside the six-yard box for his first of the season.
And the Colchester number ten sealed the points in style, volleying home from outside the area and leaving Blackman with no chance in the Wycombe goal.
Dayle Southwell forced Sam Walker into a fine save in the dying seconds but it would have been too little too late for Wycombe who lie 19th with just one win from their opening five fixtures.
And for Gareth Ainsworth the performance fell well below the standards he’s set over the three and half years in charge.
“It’s not good enough,” admitted Ainsworth. “It’s another second half where we’ve dropped our standards from the first and we’re going to have to look into this.
“I’m hurting today and I’ll be hurting tonight. I know it means a lot to a lot of people but I’ll be positive again tomorrow and get the vibes going.
“But there’s no devastation here. We’ve got a squad of lads who are really trying but just not clicking at the moment.
“I thought they defended really stoutly and did really well against Bayo [Akinfenwa] whereas we let in two sloppy goals and at this level you get punished.”
WYCOMBE (4-4-2): Blackman 7, Harriman 6, Jombati 7, Stewart 7, Pierre 7, Thompson 6 (Freeman 80 6), Bean 4, Rowe 6 (Bloomfield 80 5), Wood 5 (Hayes 71 5), Akinfenwa 7, Southwell 6 Subs not used: Richardson, McGinn, De Havilland COLCHESTER (4-1-4-1): Walker 6, Brindley 6, Kinsella 7, Prosser 8, Eastman 8, Wright 6, Lapslie 6 (Slater 87 N/A), Szmodics 9 (Wynter 85 6), Dickenson 8, Guthrie 6, Porter 7 (Johnstone 84 6) Subs not used: Bransgrove, Vincent-Young, Bonne, Sembie-Ferris